beasts and super-beasts(野兽与超级野兽)-第13章
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Atlantic in order to enrich with their pens the daily printed records of the
case； one word…painter； who specialised in descriptions of how
witnesses turn pale under cross…examination； was summoned hurriedly
back from a famous and prolonged murder trial in Sicily； where indeed
his talents were being decidedly wasted。 Thumb…nail artists and expert
kodak manipulators were retained at extravagant salaries； and special
dress reporters were in high demand。 An enterprising Paris firm of
costume builders presented the defendant Duchess with three special
creations； to be worn； marked； learned； and extensively reported at
various critical stages of the trial； and as for the cinematograph agents；
their industry and persistence was untiring。 Films representing the
Duke saying good…bye to his favourite canary on the eve of the trial were
in readiness weeks before the event was due to take place； other films
depicted the Duchess holding imaginary consultations with fictitious
lawyers or making a light repast off specially advertised vegetarian
sandwiches during a supposed luncheon interval。 As far as human
foresight and human enterprise could go nothing was lacking to make
the trial a success。
Two days before the case was down for hearing the advance reporter
of an important syndicate obtained an interview with the Duke for the
purpose of gleaning some final grains of information concerning his
Grace's personal arrangements during the trial。
〃I suppose I may say this will be one of the biggest affairs of its kind
during the lifetime of a generation；〃 began the reporter as an excuse for
the unsparing minuteness of detail that he was about to make quest for。
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〃I suppose so … if it comes off；〃 said the Duke lazily。
〃If？〃 queried the reporter； in a voice that was something between a
gasp and a scream。
〃The Duchess and I are both thinking of going on strike；〃 said the
Duke。
〃Strike！〃
The baleful word flashed out in all its old hideous familiarity。 Was
there to be no end to its recurrence？
〃Do you mean；〃 faltered the reporter； 〃that you are contemplating a
mutual withdrawal of the charges？〃
〃Precisely；〃 said the Duke。
〃But think of the arrangements that have been made； the special
reporting； the cinematographs； the catering for the distinguished foreign
witnesses； the prepared music…hall allusions； think of all the money that
has been sunk … 〃
〃Exactly；〃 said the Duke coldly； 〃the Duchess and I have realised
that it is we who provide the material out of which this great far…
reaching industry has been built up。 Widespread employment will be
given and enormous profits made during the duration of the case； and we；
on whom all the stress and racket falls； will get … what？ An
unenviable notoriety and the privilege of paying heavy legal expenses
whichever way the verdict goes。 Hence our decision to strike。 We
don't wish to be reconciled； we fully realise that it is a grave step to take；
but unless we get some reasonable consideration out of this vast
stream of wealth and industry that we have called into being we intend
coming out of court and staying out。 Good afternoon。〃
The news of this latest strike spread universal dismay。 Its
inaccessibility to the ordinary methods of persuasion made it peculiarly
formidable。 If the Duke and Duchess persisted in being reconciled the
Government could hardly be called on to interfere。 Public opinion in
the shape of social ostracism might be brought to bear on them； but that
was as far as coercive measures could go。 There was nothing for it but
a conference； with powers to propose liberal terms。 As it was； several
of the foreign witnesses had already departed and others had
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telegraphed cancelling their hotel arrangements。
The conference； protracted； uncomfortable； and occasionally
acrimonious； succeeded at last in arranging for a resumption of litigation；
but it was a fruitless victory。 The Duke； with a touch of his earlier
precocity； died of premature decay a fortnight before the date fixed for
the new trial。
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THE ROMANCERS
IT was autumn in London； that blessed season between the
harshness of winter and the insincerities of summer； a trustful season
when one buys bulbs and sees to the registration of one's vote； believing
perpetually in spring and a change of Government。
Morton Crosby sat on a bench in a secluded corner of Hyde Park；
lazily enjoying a cigarette and watching the slow grazing promenade of
a pair of snow…geese； the male looking rather like an albino edition of
the russet…hued female。 Out of the corner of his eye Crosby also noted
with some interest the hesitating hoverings of a human figure； which had
passed and repassed his seat two or three times at shortening intervals；
like a wary crow about to alight near some possibly edible morsel。
Inevitably the figure came to an anchorage on the bench； within easy
talking distance of its original occupant。 The uncared…for clothes； the
aggressive； grizzled beard； and the furtive； evasive eye of the new…comer
bespoke the professional cadger； the man who would undergo hours of
humiliating tale…spinning and rebuff rather than adventure on half a day's
decent work。
For a while the new…comer fixed his eyes straight in front of him in a
strenuous； unseeing gaze； then his voice broke out with the insinuating
inflection of one who has a story to retail well worth any loiterer's while
to listen to。
〃It's a strange world；〃 he said。
As the statement met with no response he altered it to the form of a
question。
〃I daresay you've found it to be a strange world； mister？〃
〃As far as I am concerned；〃 said Crosby； 〃the strangeness has worn
off in the course of thirty…six years。〃
〃Ah；〃 said the greybeard； 〃I could tell you things that you'd hardly
believe。 Marvellous things that have really happened to me。〃
〃Nowadays there is no demand for marvellous things that have really
happened；〃 said Crosby discouragingly； 〃the professional writers of
fiction turn these things out so much better。 For instance； my
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neighbours tell me wonderful； incredible things that their Aberdeens and
chows and borzois have done； I never listen to them。 On the other hand；
I have read 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' three times。〃
The greybeard moved uneasily in his seat； then he opened up new
country。
〃I take it that you are a professing Christian；〃 he observed。
〃I am a prominent and I think I may say an influential member of the
Mussulman community of Eastern Persia；〃 said Crosby； making an
excursion himself into the realms of fiction。
The greybeard was obviously disconcerted at this new check to
introductory conversation； but the defeat was only momentary。
〃Persia。 I should never have taken you for a Persian；〃 he remarked；
with a somewhat aggrieved air。
〃I am not；〃 said Crosby； 〃my father was an Afghan。〃
〃An Afghan！〃 said the other； smitten into bewildered silence for a
moment。 Then he recovered himself and renewed his attack。
〃Afghanistan。 Ah！ We've had some wars with that country； now；
I daresay； instead of fighting it we might have learned something from it。
A very wealthy country； I believe。 No real poverty there。〃
He raised his voice on the word 〃poverty〃 with a suggestion of
intense feeling。 Crosby saw the opening and avoided it。
〃It possesses； nevertheless； a number of highly talented and
ingenious beggars；〃 he said； 〃if I had not spoken so disparagingly of
marvellous things that have really happened I would tell you the story of
Ibrahim and the eleven camel…loads of blotting…paper。 Also I have
forgotten exactly how it ended。〃
〃My own life…story is a curious one；〃 said the stranger； apparently
stifling all desire to hear the history of Ibrahim； 〃I was not always as you
see me now。〃
〃We are supposed to undergo complete change in the course of every
seven years；〃 said Crosby； as an explanation of the foregoing
announcement。
〃I mean I was not always in such distressing circumstances as I am
at present；〃 pursued the stranger doggedly。
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〃That sounds rather rude；〃 said Crosby stiffly； 〃considering that you
are at present talking to a man reputed to be one of the most gifted
conversationalists of the Afghan border。〃
〃I don't mean in that way；〃 said the greybeard
